First of all, this is the title of one of my very favorite books, by Katherine Center, about a lady firefighter who moves from Austin to a smaller Massachusetts station and has to ‘earn’ their respect as, the, aforementioned ‘lady’ firefighter.

Anyway – but that’s not what this post is about! But every time I say, “I’m rereading a book” the kids all say YES ABOUT THE FIREFIGHTER. And, often, they are … right.

Anyway x2! My middle child, my sweet 9th grader, has either adjusted slightly better or is pretending to — no more nightly chess, or even weekly — she is busy with homework and texting friends. And this weekend is her homecoming, which she is going to with a group of friends. But she still has a new dress, a makeup appointment, and a hair appointment. I was mad — why is she spending so much without a date — and then I got mad at MYSELF — do I want to teach her we only dress up for MEN? No!

But yesterday her 9th grade school picture arrived in the mail. She’s, heartbreakingly, gorgeous. So grown up. And the biggest treasure I have other than my family, more than jewelry or other stuff … are my three photo frames of the kids from kindergarten until (now) 9th, 10th and 6th grades. I just love seeing them grow, in one glance, from tiny babies to almost grown kids. It’s a magical frame that encapsulates so many years — especially now as the ‘unfilled’ ones have baby photos for all three kids …

Anyway — I put her photo in (with Jason’s help) immediately, and then can’t wait to get home today and see it (and the kids). The days are long, but goodness do the years fly by.

It is funny how well I think I know myself, and how little I (maybe all of us?) actually do. Someone said recently: Well, he needs structure, and we know you won’t provide that (about someone to manage). And I was thinking — but structure is my whole game! But, it’s a loose structure.

Then we did a thing at work about what type of person you are, and there was so much revealed — how I am terrible at chit chat (but I always chit chat, I said, and my colleagues said, ‘no, you dive into the deepest subject possible’). How I devalue compliments because I am looking for ‘what is in it for them, why are they complimenting me?’

ANYWAY. I went to a board meeting in Montana last week, and I love to hike up to the big University of Montana M early in the morning before the meeting (I HAVE done this before). It turns out that I haven’t done it at the end of September. I left my room at 5:40 a.m. (which is 7:40 my time, remember) and was surprised by the dark, but assumed the light was just coming. I ran the 1.5 miles to the trail, and it was still dark, so I set up the trail. Then I tripped on a rock in the dark, and almost fell. Then I tripped again (I was trying to do it without my phone light, because surely it was about to get sunny). Finally I checked the time of sunrise … yes … 7:29 a.m. I was back in my room after the hike up to the top, and it was STILL pitch black.

SO, a friend who has known me a long time pointed out that I am … not great at taking advice. She recommended parenting books? I didn’t read them. I’m going on a hike? I don’t check the weather/light. There are lots of examples. But I DO take advice (sometimes, or, ahem, I think I do) from friends and family. When Suzanne told us to follow through on punishments for my daughter we have and it has made our relationship SO MUCH BETTER. I just like being told by the person who learned from it, vs. a book.

Anyway — check for daylight before going on a hike! Look at that famous M! (hint: You can’t see it at all).